Improvement in straw-cutters



@einen taire lstnt @,ffirt..

WILLIAM A. BIOKLE AND ROBERT OIIESNUI, OF BIOHMON D, INDIAN'.

Letters Patent No. 63,606, @lated April 9, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN STRAW-GUTTERS.

.TO ALL NHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. BICKLE and ROBERT GEES-NUT, of Richmond, in the county of lVayne,

and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cutting-Boxes for chopping straw, hay, die.; and We do hereby declare that the following is a. full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan view.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section. I

The same letters are employed in all the gures in the indication of identical parts,

A is the main fratrie supporting the mechanism. B B are the side boards forming the trough, through which the straw is fed to the cutter, being carried forward by the revolution of the rollers C and C', which both revolve towards the cutting-knife. These rollers are driven by two ratchet-wheels D and D on their respective shafts. These ratchet-wheels are caused to revolve by the reciprocating motion of the two feed-rods E and F. The rod F is formed with a hook, which catches over the teeth of the ratchet D, and draws the same, i

so that it is made to revolve in the direction of the hands of a clock. The feed-rod E pushes 'against the teeth of the ratchet D', causing it to revolve in the opposite direction, by which means the rollers are respectively caused to revolve in such direction as to carry forward the straw passing between them towards the cutting-knife. These rods receive a reciprocating motion by the oscillation of the T-formed lever G, to the arms of which they are respectively attached, the lever itself being pivoted at the point of intersection of the stem and arms. An oscillating motion is given to the lever G by the pitman H, which is driven by a crank on the end of the main driving-shaft I. K is a wheel attached to the overhang end of the shaft I. This wheel may be formed either as a disk, or with a rim and arms. The knife L is att-ached to the wheel K. It rests uponinetallic blocks or pins, by which it is rigidly maintained at a distance from the wheel K, to permit the ends of the straw when eut to fall between the knife and wheel. This knife, as shown, is formed with serrated edges, and on curve continually increasing from the heel near the shaft; to the point near the periphery of the wheel. rIhe form of the knife may be as shown, or it may be semicircular or straight, and the edge may be serrated or plain. The position of the knife would require to be changed according to the changes in its form, as indicated by the holes shown in the wheel in the drawing. The driving power may be applied directly to the wheel K, or to the shaft I. The journals of the upper roller C are supported upon the springs M, the elasticity of which allows the roller to bc adjusted according to the quantity of straw being fed, and maintains a uniform pressure upon the straw passing under the roller.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

I. lhe combination and arrangement, substantially as set forth, of the cutting and feeding mechanism of a straw-cutter, having a straight or curved serrated knife L, and adjustable feed-rollers O and C.

2. The combination of the shaft I, pitrnan H, .T-formed lever Gr, and feed-rods E and F, with the ratchetwheels D andD, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v

3. The combination of the springs M, roller C, ratchet D, and feed-rod F, hinged to the lever G, substantially as and. for the purpose set forth. Y v

In testimony whereof We have signed our names Yto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. BICKLE, ROBERT CHESNUT.

Witnesses: Y

JAMES S. BELENDER, JOHN F. YOUNG. 

